It is too complicated. We just get, save or write something, maybe with some categories, keywords, or tags.
After saving, maybe you need some organization later, but most time they are just there. Most time you search content by categories, keywords, or tags.
I think we need right tools for different requirements.
The credit goes to Luhmann. Ahrens wrote a book about Luhmann's system, but Ahrens' book was more about the practical side of study habits and the nature of knowledge as much as it was about the practical side of actually using a zettelkasten.
I bought Ahrens's book to learn how to take smart notes. It should've been called Why to Take Smart Notes. The book was more about how good and lifechanging it is to use Zettelkasten, which was a bummer because I was already interested enough in the idea to buy a book about it. I was looking for more of a how-to.
Most people set up a Zettelkasten Obsidian system, but abandon it by month three. The method itself works. The problem is that most guides stop at day one and don’t address what comes after.
We’ll focus on both: how to set it up, and how to keep it running over time with the right habits and AI support.
What the Zettelkasten method actually is (and what it isn’t)
The Zettelkasten method (German for “slip box”) was popularized by German sociologist Niklas Luhmann. Over roughly 40 years, he created around 90,000 handwritten notes and used them to produce some 600 publications, including about 60 books.
He referred to his Zettelkasten as his “second memory” and credited it as a key part of his output.
Originally, the method was built for researchers drowning in information. People who needed to read, process, and connect vast amounts of source material.
Today, AI has created a new kind of knowledge problem.
Large language models can’t do much with raw notes or scattered documents. LLMs work better with structured, clearly defined pieces of information that can be referenced and combined.
The Zettelkasten format maps almost perfectly onto how AI knowledge bases need to be organized:
One idea per unit
Clearly titled
Richly connected
But before you set one up, you need to understand what Zettelkasten actually is. Because most people get it wrong from the start.
I have written something similar! Used and improved my Obsidian setup through years of use.
My practical guide on setting up a smart notes / Zettelkasten / atomic notes Vault: https://bryanhogan.com/blog/obsidian-zettelkasten
Also wrote about how it fits into my overall Vault setup: https://bryanhogan.com/blog/obsidian-vault
It is too complicated. We just get, save or write something, maybe with some categories, keywords, or tags.
After saving, maybe you need some organization later, but most time they are just there. Most time you search content by categories, keywords, or tags.
I think we need right tools for different requirements.
Yep. I agree. This and other systems like it are for people who obsess over planning on doing work rather than actually doing any.
On a different note, the website feels a bit quickly AI generated just made to promote this desktopcommander app?
Edit: Oh, I actually just found the comment from the author here, sounds like AI slop.
Please credit Sönke Ahrens and his 2017 book _How to Take Smart Notes_ for this system.
The credit goes to Luhmann. Ahrens wrote a book about Luhmann's system, but Ahrens' book was more about the practical side of study habits and the nature of knowledge as much as it was about the practical side of actually using a zettelkasten.
I bought Ahrens's book to learn how to take smart notes. It should've been called Why to Take Smart Notes. The book was more about how good and lifechanging it is to use Zettelkasten, which was a bummer because I was already interested enough in the idea to buy a book about it. I was looking for more of a how-to.
Most people set up a Zettelkasten Obsidian system, but abandon it by month three. The method itself works. The problem is that most guides stop at day one and don’t address what comes after.
We’ll focus on both: how to set it up, and how to keep it running over time with the right habits and AI support. What the Zettelkasten method actually is (and what it isn’t) The Zettelkasten method (German for “slip box”) was popularized by German sociologist Niklas Luhmann. Over roughly 40 years, he created around 90,000 handwritten notes and used them to produce some 600 publications, including about 60 books. He referred to his Zettelkasten as his “second memory” and credited it as a key part of his output. Originally, the method was built for researchers drowning in information. People who needed to read, process, and connect vast amounts of source material.
Today, AI has created a new kind of knowledge problem. Large language models can’t do much with raw notes or scattered documents. LLMs work better with structured, clearly defined pieces of information that can be referenced and combined. The Zettelkasten format maps almost perfectly onto how AI knowledge bases need to be organized:
One idea per unit Clearly titled Richly connected
But before you set one up, you need to understand what Zettelkasten actually is. Because most people get it wrong from the start.